Swan Hills
http://www.townofswanhills.com
Welcome
Welcome to Swan Hills Alberta
It was January 1, 1967 that Swan Hills was incorporated as Canada’s first Centennial Town. At the time the total population was 850. Due to oil and gas development in the early 1950’s the need for a town site became apparent and the camps that had sprung up at the old town site were consolidated to the preset town site around 1959-1960. Further growth in the oil and gas industry spurred larger population, industrial and facility growth. Originally started out as a planned community for 800 we now have settled in at 1868 residents strong.
We are the highest municipality east of the Rockies with an elevation of 4000’ (1219.2 m), surrounded by the beautiful Northern Boreal Forest. This forest is classified as a multiuse forest with the forestry industry and oil and gas industry side by side with limitless recreation possibilities such as hunting, fishing, ATV and Sled trails, horseback and mountain bike trails all in our “Wilderness Playground” right outside our back door. The town’s amenities include an indoor swimming pool with steam room and hot tub, ice arena, 3 sheet curling rink, youth center, community center with a commercial kitchen and seating for 400, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, Skateboard Park, recycle program, k to 12 public school and a community health center. A small but thriving retail sector and oil and gas service companies round out the town.
We are still oil and gas town but are also home to Canada’s first fully integrated special waste treatment center. There are opportunities to be had in our town. From the sitting of new businesses servicing oil and gas or forestry industry, recreational development, an alternate place to live at a more affordable cost, or perhaps business that use heat recovery from plants in the area to wind power generation Swan Hills is open for business and looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for dropping by the web site for a visit and we look forward to a visit in person to Swan Hills Alberta
Pamela Marriott Mayor of Swan Hills
Area Overview
Native legend describes giant swans whose thundering wings can often be heard in the hilly forested terrain in west-central Alberta. The steep hills, dense forest and muskeg were deterrents to homesteaders leaving the Swan Hills to the animals and the occasional trapper. The Swan Hills was an area that remained in isolation until the discovery of oil.
The Town of Swan Hills was named after the area in which it is found. The Town of Swan Hills was incorporated in 1967: approximately 10 years after oil deposits were first discovered. The town site was intended to serve the surrounding industry activity and today continues to thrive in the predominantly resource-based economy. Business activity reflects the economy with a number of service-to-industry companies. The downtown sector is active with retail, hospitality and financial services. Its unique setting on a hillside almost 4000 feet high, adds an extra feature to doing business in "the Hills".
Location
The Town of Swan Hills is located in Improvement District #17, at the junction of Highways 32 and 33. It is 72 km north of Whitecourt, 209 km northwest of Edmonton, and 503 km northwest of Calgary.
The Town Of Swan Hills Is The Closest Community To The Geographical Center Of Alberta.
Economic Base
The provincial special waste treatment centre just north of Swan Hills is North America's first comprehensive special waste treatment facility. The $50 million centre has the capacity to treat 15,000 tons of waste per year.
Major Businesses Products/Services
- Devon Canada Corporation, Oil and Gas
- Apache Canada Ltd., Oil and Gas
- Conoco Canada Resourses Ltd., Oil and Gas
- Pengrowth Gas Corporation, Oil and Gas
- Pembina Pipeline Corp. Oil and Gas
- Penn West Petroleum Oil and Gas
Financial Institutions
Oil and Gas Industry
Economic Facts
Hospitality
Accommodation
- Derrick Motor Inn
- Grizzly Motel
- Hillcrest Motel
- Swan Hills Hotel
- Homestead Motel
- Sammy's Restaurant
- The Burger Baron
- Swan Palace Restaurant
- Swan Hills Hotel Family Restaurant
- Cafe A-Mour
Utilities
Electrical Power
Direct Energy (electric)
Plaza Avenue
Swan Hills, Alberta
Tel: 780-333-4345
Natural Gas
Direct Energy (natural gas)
Plaza Avenue
Swan Hills, Alberta
Tel: 780-333-2664
Telephone
Telus Communications Ltd.
Swan Hills, Alberta
Tel: 780-333-4500
Water Supply
Town of Swan Hills
Swan Hills, Alberta
Tel: 780-333-4477
The source of water is the Freeman Lake. The reservoir capacity, measured in treated substance, is 800,000 gallons.
Waste Management
Town of Swan Hills
Swan Hills, Alberta
Tel: 780-333-4477
Sewage treatment is provided by 4 anaerobic ponds, 1 facultative pond and 5 storage ponds.
Residential garbage is collected weekly by the Town of Swan Hills, while commercial and industrial garbage is also collected weekly or as required by independent contractors.
Taxation
Taxation
Residential/Farmland Non-Residential
2008
Municipal Tax Rate .01611200
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate .00186720
Residential/Farmland Non-Residential
2005
Municipal Tax Rate 16.2327 20.4312
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate 4.6173 6.9349
Mill Rates [2000]
Residential - Public 29.31
Residential - Separate N/A
Non-Residential - Public 28.93
Non-Residential - Separate N/A
Transportation
Air Service
M.D. of Big Lakes
Box 239
High Prairie, AB
T0G 1E0
Phone: 780-523-5955
Swan Hills Airport has all-weather facilities and a 5,000 foot lighted, asphalt landing strip. The nearest commercial and air freight service is available at Edmonton International Airport, 209 km southeast of town.
Rail Service
The nearest spur is at Whitecourt [Canadian National Railways].
Highways
Connecting highways are Highway 32, which connects with Whitecourt going south and Highway 33 to Slave Lake via Highway 2 going north. Highway 33 [Grizzly Trail] connects with Barrhead going south.
Trucking Firms
Bus Services
Greyhound Bus Lines provides regularly scheduled inter-community service. Courier services can be found at
Couriers and Taxis
Swan Hills Airport
Community Lifestyle
Recreation in Swan Hills.
The Town of Swan Hills maintains 6 campgrounds within a 25 km radius of town. Trapper Leas’ Campground is a historical site, that allows the camper to access ATV and Snowmobile trails directly from the campground. Located on Highway 32, this campground offers 20 sites in a mature forest setting, with outhouses and a water pump. More adventurous campers will winter camp and snowmobile from the campground to the town for lunch.
Edith Lake, Freeman Lake, Freeman River and Chrystina Lake are peaceful spots that over look excellent fishing lakes, surrounded by boreal forest, these campgrounds are rustic offering basic amenities. Chrystina Lake does not have a water pump so it is important to take your own drinking water. Freeman River Campground is a beautiful little campground on the banks of the Freeman River. Tubing and fishing are popular activities at this site. Basic amenities are offered. The Krause Lake Recreation Area is located just minutes south of Town off Hwy 32, adjacent to the Swan Hills Golf Course this is a group camp and reservations are accepted through the Swan Hills Golf and Country Club. If you are looking for more amenities - camp at the Four Seasons Campground, this in town campground has showers, 5 power sites, and 8 non-power. Sewer and water are not available. There is a sani-dump and potable water station located at the Tourist Information Center
The Swan Hills area is tremendous country for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and quadding. Countless miles of cleared cut-lines lead to fascinating wilderness splendor amid tall pines and spruce. Also, year round, the unique flora and fauna of the nearby Goose Mountain Ecological Reserve is a natural wonder home to over 16 plants that are rare in Alberta. In town recreational amenities in Swan Hills include an indoor swimming pool with hot tub, arena [renovated in 1998], a new 3-sheet curling rink (1999), community centre [400 person capacity – a professional catering kitchen], a lighted toboggan hill, 4 ball diamonds (1 baseball, 3 slow pitch).
The Swan Hills Dirt Riders maintain a motocross track giving all riders young and old a chance to try their skill. Each year the club hosts a sanctioned race drawing riders from a crossed Alberta. Municipal Town of Swan Hills 5536 Main Street, P.O. Box 149 Swan Hills, Alberta T0G 2C0 Tel: 780-333-4477 Fax: 780-333-4547 Municipal Library 780-333-4505 Public Works 780-333-2815 FCSS 780-333-7099 YES 780-333-4404 SHARE 780-333-2855
Provincial
Fish & Wildlife Forest District Office Provincial Court Transportation and Utilities
Federal
Canada Post Office 780-333-2691 Royal Canadian Mounted Police 780-333-4459
Freeman Lake Dam
Education
Swan Hills is part of the Pembina Hills Regional School Division #7, headquartered in Barrhead [Tel: 780-674-8500].
Nursery Schools
Swan Hills Nursery School
Public Schools
Swan Hills School provides education services for Grades K to 12.
Post Secondary
The Swan Hills campus of Northern Lakes College offers a variety of educational opportunities.The Swan Hills campus is a Communication Access Point (CAP) site with fully integrated video conference courses available with seven Alberta Universities and Colleges. Northern Lakes has recently partnered with Education 2 Go to bring more choices to students. You know can take an online class and work toward the degree you always wanted. Set aside some time to check out the courses.
Rat Lake
Health Care
Swan Hills Health Care Centre has 24 hospital beds.Other medical services include the Aspen Health Unit, a dental clinic, a medical clinic, and other medical support services.
Emergency Services
Fire Protection
Swan Hills is served by a 20 member volunteer fire department. These personnel although volunteers are well disciplined and well trained. [Administration Office 780-333-4811 EMERGENCY #780-333-2255 or 911].
Police Services
Swan Hills is served by a 3 member local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] [Tel: 780-333-4459].
Ambulance Services
Ambulance services (land and air) are available [Administration No. 780-333-4811 EMERGENCY NO. 780-333-2255 or 911].
Community Services
Swan Hills offers numerous groups and clubs, please vist our web site for currentl list of local groups. click here
Climate
The economic base of the region is oil and gas.All told, the Swan Hills area has nearly 2,000 oil and gas wells which have, in recent years, been yielding a total of 260,000 barrels of oil and 250 million cubic feet of gas daily.The tourism industry and Canada's first fully integrated special waste management centre also provide a strong economic base for the area.
Google Map
Swan Hills, Alberta, Canada